OPEN HOUSE for Parents/Guardians and Students of Soundings XVII WELCOME TO SOUNDINGS OPEN HOUSE for Parents/Guardians and Students of Soundings XVII 2017-2018

Soundings Basics Students create their own curriculum. Students do NOT receive grades. Students work in small groups, individually and as a whole class. Students always have work to be done each night for Soundings. Emphasis is put on the quality of the work, not the quantity or a grade. Work is not “finished” until the student decides it is their “best”.

Soundings Work Log Book: Daily Log Questions Quotes Twice per Week Daily Goals Daily Accomplishments Upcoming Due Dates Notes from discussions

Soundings Work Self Assessments Soundings students create the Self Assessment. Begin October 4th. Bi-weekly. Due dates are set for the year.

Soundings Work Self Assessments (cont.) Students fill out assessment in school on Wednesday. Teachers write comments and return to students by Friday. Students take home assessment on Friday. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are asked to read, comment and sign assessment. Students return with assessment by Monday.

Soundings Work Reading Journal: Validations of Books Read Types of Validations: Book Talk Letter to the Author Pictures/Collage New Ending/Epilogue Critique of the Novel Notes from Coffeehouses

Soundings Work Coffeehouses Students Identified Favorite Genres of Literature Students have been put into genre groups Groups present the genre to the rest of the class Presentation dates have been set for the year Info/aspects of the genre are presented Recommended novels Activities related to the genre Food

Soundings Work Current Events Bi-Weekly First one due September 27th (Today) All class/same article Due dates set for the year Due on Wednesdays Students choose the article Write summary of article with connection(s) and/or impact(s) One to two pages typed

Soundings Work Individual Research Projects Students choose topics IRP #1: Method of presentation – student choice Due dates are set by teachers Final Presentations – Mid-January

Soundings Work Individual Research Projects IRP #2: Method of presentation – research paper Due dates are set by students Final Research Paper – Late May

Soundings Work Focus Papers Writing Prompts Five or more assigned each year Two to Four pages in length Related to goal setting, Units of Study, genres of literature, and modes of writing

Soundings Work Lab Experiments and Lab Reports Lab Experiments are generated by teachers Students are encouraged to do their own Lab Report #1 – Due October 12th Lab Reports Typed Conclusion – Essay Primary focus – Physical Science

Student-Led Conferences Soundings Students run their respective conferences. Conferences are offered twice each year November – Required Offered same week as the rest of RMS. Two additional evenings offered in November. May – Optional Two evenings are offered. Showcase completed work and progress. Parent-Teacher conferences on Traditional teams – 20 minutes Soundings Student-Led Conferences – 40 minutes (average)

Website Soundings website is a very valuable tool. Contains most of the information you and your child will need. http://www.rtsd.org//Domain/416

Soundings Tips for Success This is not the year to be “hands off” What your son/daughter puts into the program is what he/she will get out of it This can be a year of tremendous growth Team effort Attendance is important Daily discussions/notes Time in school to meet with groups/work individually

Soundings Tips for Success Communication is critical No grades on HAC – Self Assessments key Soundings Updates sent via Email Please Email Both of Us Kyle.Yeiter@rtsd.org David.Mercurio@rtsd.org